the valley alliance of worker...

The Valley Alliance of Worker Co-operatives

Occupy Workplace DemocracyJanuary 8, 2012

Adam TrottStaff Co-ordinator, VAWC; Worker/Member, Collective Copies

Working for a Co-operative Economy

Outline

Brief Context of Co-op Movement

Questions facing us

The Valley Alliance of Worker Co-operatives

Resources

The Co-operative IdentityShared among all co-operatives

A co-operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-

owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.

International Co-operative Alliance, 1995 • www.ica.coop

Co-operative PrinciplesShared among all co-operatives

Voluntary & Open Membership

Democratic Member Control

Member Economic Participation

Autonomy & Independence

Education, Training & Information

Co-operation Among Co-operatives

Concern for Community

Co-operative ValuesShared among all co-operatives

Self-Help

Self-Responsibility

Democracy

Equality

Equity

Solidarity

Honesty

Openness

Social Responsibility

Caring for Others

Questions Facing Us

Why are co-ops useful models for OWS moving forward?

Why organize co-operatives into larger, meso-level, co-operative support organizations? ?

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Questions Facing Us

Why are co-ops useful models for OWS moving forward?

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Why are co-ops useful models for OWS moving forward?

Co-ops root capital and employment in their communities

Worker Co-ops emancipate labor

Co-ops as multigenerational asset

Co-ops apply a sustainable, democratically/consensus driveneconomic model for sustainable movements A different economic model: serving members not profit,

based on one member, one vote decision making

Questions Facing Our Movement

Why organize co-operatives into larger, meso-level, co-operative support organizations?

...institutions that are at an intermediate level between micro-level

units (co-ops) and macro-level institutions (government, parliament,

central bank, international organizations, etc.), providing

intermediation of interests and fulfilling a series of functional roles toward

specific micro-level units...*

What is a 'meso-level' organization?

*From Bruno Roelants, Worker Co-operatives and Socio-Economic Development: The Role of Meso-Level Institutions

Roles including:

Development Public policy Promotion Mutual trust Democratic conrol*

Model a)Mondragón Co-operative Corporation

Located in Basque region, Spain

Started in 1950s

First co-op in 1956 (Started with 5 employees, now has 8,000)

Premised on Import substitution and social entrepreneurship

Started co-op bank with entrepreneurial division (1959)

Utilized internal capital accounts for development and retirement

$22 Billion in sales, 103,700 workers, 264 co-ops in 2009

Model b)The Region of Emilia Romagna

4 million people

7,500+ co-ops (2/3 are worker co-ops)

30-40% of GDP

2 out 3 are members of co-ops

Most co-ops per capita

10% employed by co-ops

Cross-sector collaboration

Co-op written law – 3% of surplus of all co-ops paid to co-op development

High standard of living

What can we learn from successful Co-op Complexes?

Shared Characteristics of International Co-operatives

Clear co-op identity

Co-op led movement

Integrated investment in co-op development

Focus on innovation, education & co-opreneurship

Vision of a co-operative economy

Co-op enterprise seen as a multigenerational asset

Valley Alliance of Worker Co-opsBeginnings and Background

Started in 2005 to continue energy and development of Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy

Part of a new generation of interco-operative leaders

Poses interco-operation as necessary to answer these larger questions

Vision and focus on cross sector co-op collaboration

VAWC: 8 member worker co-operatives

Tradition of collective management

65+ worker members, 10+ apprentices

$7.1 million revenue (2010)

VAWC system has increased in revenue and membership annually for the last three years

Linked to/founded from social justice and/or environmental movements

VAWC Region CharacteristicsWorker Co-operation in western Massachusetts and southern Vermont

Member Co-ops direct, fund and hold staff accountable

Co-ops are founded with support from a system – not expected to perform/grow while isolated

5% of Member Co-op's surplus paid to a development fund directed by VAWC members for co-op expansion or new co-ops

Shared knowledge and resources save time, energy and funds: Model bylaws and articles of incorporation; legal, lending, accounting, training and process support, etc.

Development, support and funding is based on long term goals

VAWC Co-operative Development A Co-op driven Model

VAWC Co-operative Development Recent outcomes

Completed two successful conversions, working on third

Co-createdCertificate in Co-operative Enterprise, at UMASS, Amherst (www.umasscec.org)

Developed and initiated VAWC Co-operative Development Fund

On-going ad and PR campaign:Working for a Co-op Economy

Co-founded Valley Co-operative Business Association, a cross sector organization in our region

Why organize worker co-operatives into larger, meso-level, co-operative support

organizations?

Gather resources – oftentimes scarce – to achieve vision

Develop particular voice of worker co-operative sector

Effectively communicate and partner with other sectors and like-minded organizations

Promote, educate and develop as a model

Remove strain from individual co-ops, calling all interested co-ops to the table, and managing demand of support and outreach as a system

Neighboring Food Co-op Association

Green Field's Market (a co-managed 2 store food co-op)

Valley Co-operative Business Association

United States Federation of Worker Co-operatives

Co-operative Fund of New England

UMASS, Amherst Economics Department

Organizational Partners

Summary

Co-ops provide a useful model for firms as multigenerational economic entities rooting capital and employment, returning investment on behalf of community members

Meso-level organizations, co-operatively structured, allow for effective organization and communication of needs creating a 'virtuous cycle' between co-ops and their support systems.

Continuing dialog among co-ops and OWS provides resources, tools, and mission driven operations

Resources

Valley Alliance of Worker Co-operativeswww.valleyworker.org

US Federation of Worker Co-operativeswww.usworker.coop

International Co-operative Alliancewww.ica.coop

Adam Trott • adam@valleyworker.org

Special Thanks to Erbin Crowell • erbin@nfca.coop